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The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

• DAR’s Continuing Commitment to Equality
• National Headquarters
• DAR Publications
• DAR History
• DAR's 125th Anniversary
• Did you know?
• What is DAR
• Who Are DAR Members
• Member Interests
• Volunteer Projects
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• Chapter Locator
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• Honoring Our Patriots
• Inside This Issue
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• Speak With Relatives
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Education Resources

• Essay Contests
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• Who Is Margaret Cochran Corbin?
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• Margaret Corbin Rededication Ceremony
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That girl lay lay.

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Metal and Crystal Bowl Sound Bath

Tuesday talk—tokens of love, regard, and loss: looking at hair jewelry in the dar museum collection, crystal bowl sound bath, dar library.

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DAR Americana Collection and NSDAR Archives

• History of the Collections
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Learn how DAR members selflessly and tirelessly dedicated themselves to the war relief effort of World War I

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• Guardian Trust Endowment
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Since its founding in 1890, the Daughters of the American Revolution has promoted historic preservation, education and patriotism in communities across the nation. From essay contests to educational materials to youth programs, scholarships, and awards, DAR has something to offer to every community. All students are invited to participate and learn more about the educational programs the DAR offers.

Downloadable informational handouts are provided below and can be used for DAR chapters to take to their local schools and for educators to learn more about the programs. Local chapters can provide more detailed information about the programs in their specific communities.

Historic Preservation

• American History Essay Contest An annual essay contest established to encourage young people to think creatively about American history.  Downloadable PDF
• DAR Historic Sites A database that catalogues information about historic properties that are owned or maintained by DAR chapters or state societies.
• Constitution Week The weeklong annual celebration of the U.S. Constitution was established by the DAR in 1955. Downloadable PDF
• Junior American Citizens All students are invited to get involved in this program that promotes good citizenship and appreciation of American history.  Downloadable PDF
• Scholarships Open to all students, the DAR offers numerous scholarships for a large variety of different programs and areas of study. 
• Resources for Teachers DAR provides original lesson plans for the K-12 community that are rich in content that focus on America, its history, government, heritage, genealogy, as well as related language and/or math topics.
• DAR Good Citizens Award and Scholarship An award and possible scholarship opportunity for high-school seniors who possess the qualities of good citizenship. Downloadable PDF
• DAR Manual for Citizenship First compiled in 1921 and updated over time, the DAR provides this online manual to help immigrants become naturalized citizens. 
• Flags and the Flag Code The DAR leaflet about the U.S. Flag Code is a useful tool for students studying the U.S. Flag. Downloadable PDF
• DAR Youth Citizenship Medal A medal given to students who exemplify the qualities of good citizenship. Downloadable PDF
• ROTC Medals An Award given to student cadets for their dedication to their ROTC programs. Downloadable PDF

DAR Chapter Locator

Local chapter contacts are the best resource for more information on the educational programs available in the local community.

To contact a DAR chapter in your area:  Chapter Locator

Looking for a Scholarship?

DAR offers a wide range of scholarships for a variety of different disciplines.   Learn more ...

Are you passionate about history and writing?

Enter a DAR Essay Contest! Learn More...

Celebrate Constitution Week!

September 17-23 Learn More

Interested in Getting Involved?

DAR has Youth Programs in many local communities.   Learn More...

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Forms & publications.

Attend a performance at Constitution Hall.

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DAR members selflessly dedicated themselves to the war relief effort of World War I

Patriots of the American Revolution DAR High School Essay Contest – The Inaugural Year

This year, the NSDAR launched the “ Patriots of the American Revolution DAR High School Essay Contest ,” open to students in grades 9 through 12. The contest asked students to reflect on the men and women, both famous and unknown, who figured in the events of the American Revolution (1773 – 1783), and they were encouraged to choose individuals to write about who captured their imagination and interest, whether they were well-known Founding Fathers or everyday men, women, or children.

Nearly 2200 students across the nation wrote essays on a wide variety of Revolutionary figures. The Southeast Division was particularly active, with almost 800 students from the Southeast participating. Chapters, states, and divisions recruited outstanding and distinguished judges from many different areas of expertise, a number of whom commented how impressed they were at the quality of the essays, and often noted that they themselves had learned something new about these revolutionary figures. The contest encouraged students to research their subjects and to explore archives with primary sources, both online and in person. Students stepped up to the challenge, using diaries, Revolutionary-era newspapers, letters, and legal records to create detailed pictures of their chosen figures.

The winners are:

First place: Joseph Coppinger, Northeast Division winner (from West Simsbury, CT, and sponsored by Abigail Phelps Chapter), writing on Peter Salem, “an emancipated slave who chose to support the colonies in their fight for independence,” who was “born enslaved, but who died a free man and an American Patriot.”

Second place: Zachary Henry, South Central Division winner (from Waco, TX, and sponsored by Henry Downs Chapter), writing on Benedict Arnold, who, “though reviled to no end by the American people for his treachery, was in fact one of the Continental Army’s most able and daring generals.”

Third place: Diya Kadadi, Southwest Division winner (from Sunnyvale, CA, and sponsored by Santa Clara Chapter), writing on Mercy Otis Warren, “a patriot of the American Revolution and a trailblazer for women’s rights.”

The three national winners will receive a pin, a certificate, and a monetary award ($1000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place), and the first place winner will be recognized at the Education Awards Night on Thursday during Continental Congress.

This essay contest has been a wonderful opportunity to engage students during the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, and the Society is grateful to the many Daughters and more than 200 chapters who made the launch of this essay contest such a success.

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Through restoring historic properties, funding scholarships and supporting our troops, DAR makes a difference in local communities.

ELA Brave and True by Marilyn Yung

DAR Patriots of the American Revolution Essay Contest

High school essay contest

Looking for a high school writing contest this fall? Look no further than the Daughters of the American Revolution’s (DAR) Patriots of the American Revolution Essay Contest. In my previous teaching position, a few of my high school students participated in this contest as part of our Writer’s Workshop routine. Entering the contest was one of the options they could choose for their portfolios.

If you’re not familiar with the DAR, here’s a brief intro from the organization’s website: “The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children.”

My students have had great success with the  DAR Patriots of the American Revolution Essay Contest.  Within the last three years, two of my students have written essays that won at both the local and state level, where monetary prizes were awarded. Needless to say, I’m very proud of those students!

This year’s 2022-2023 contest guidelines sheet details the topic, length (800-1,200 for 6-8 grades), format, and bibliography details. (Note: Each DAR chapter designates their own individual due dates. Check with your local chapter by locating it here on the  national DAR website’s chapter locater. )

Here’s the high school essay prompt:

“Select a figure from the era of the American Revolution (1773-1783). Discuss how he or she influenced the course of the American Revolution, who he or she was and his/her contribution to the founding of a new nation. Your figure may be any person, whether a well-known figure or an everyday man, woman or child who supported the American Revolution in ways large or small.”

With that prompt in mind, here’s my advice to your students:

Choose a lesser known patriot. Go beyond the founding fathers to find and write about a patriot whom the judges won’t be as familiar with. My student who won at state last year, for example, wrote about the patriot Nancy Hart.

Download the contest guidelines by clicking the button below:

And here’s my last tip:.

Tell your students to get creative and go beyond the traditional informative essay. Blend genres, combining, for example, a journal entry with a biographical piece.

I encourage you to try the DAR Patriots of the American Revolution High School Contest with your high school students. It was a mainstay in my classes.

Thanks for reading!

Have you ever tried a DAR contest? Leave a comment below or send me a message via my  Contact Page.  If you need more info, please ask. I’ll be glad to help you however I can.

I thoroughly believe that  writing contests  can infuse ELA with relevance and a dash of project-based learning. Whenever students know their words will enter “the real world” and be reviewed by real people, it makes them take the work more seriously.

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Enter your email below and I’ll send you this PDF file that will teach your students to write Treasured Object Poems , one of my favorite poem activities. I know your students will enjoy it!

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Published by Marilyn Yung

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